Mira Murati, former Chief Technology Officer and interim CEO of OpenAI, testified in court that CEO Sam Altman created internal turmoil and distrust among the company's leadership. According to Reuters, Murati said Altman would sometimes tell one leader one thing and another leader the opposite, and that he frequently misled her and others.
Murati also testified that during the 2023 removal attempt she nevertheless preferred Altman to remain in charge, because she feared the company could ‘‘catastrophically fall apart’’ if leadership changed suddenly. Her statement highlights a tension between concern over Altman's communication and a desire for stability at the organization.
Background and why the case matters
The testimony comes in the context of Elon Musk's lawsuit against OpenAI. The central legal question is whether OpenAI departed from its original nonprofit mission. Elon Musk — who was a co‑founder of OpenAI — argues that the company improperly became profit‑oriented and seeks to have it returned to a nonprofit structure. Musk is seeking $150 billion in damages from OpenAI and Microsoft.
Other current and former leaders have testified in the trial. Shivon Zilis, a former OpenAI board member and the mother of four of Elon Musk’s children, said the board was ‘‘extremely concerned’’ about the launch of ChatGPT because the decision, in her view, was made without even minimal communication from the leadership.
The litigation has also revealed details about OpenAI’s early days: for example, that Musk at one point considered assuming the CEO role himself and that he attempted to reach a settlement with Greg Brockman, OpenAI’s current president, before the trial began.
Implications
The case is about more than internal conflicts at a single tech company; it raises questions about governance, accountability, and the framework within which AI development occurs. Its outcome could influence how major AI developers structure ownership and governance, and who is held responsible for the societal impacts of powerful AI systems.
Murati’s testimony adds to a portrait of a company that has experienced rapid growth and significant internal tensions while facing legal challenges from its own co‑founder over its direction and governance.
